Mannheim's new noise action plan: Tempo 30 should reduce the noise!

Mannheim's new noise action plan: Tempo 30 should reduce the noise!

The noise in Mannheim's streets should soon be a thing of the past. The municipal council has now passed a new noise action plan that provides far -reaching measures to reduce noise. The aim is to significantly reduce the noise pollution in the city and thereby increase the quality of life of the residents. A central element of the plan is the introduction of speed 30, especially in the night from 10 p.m. During the day, however, this is left out on main traffic, while trams are excluded from the Tempo 30 regulation in order not to negatively influence their travel times.

Mayor Christian Specht emphasizes how important it is to grant the same access to all types of traffic and to take into account the needs of the residents. However, the conversion of the traffic lights to programmable systems, which should contribute to the noise reduction, will take a few years, as in the report of the swr Reading is.

A lawsuit hovers over Mannheim

Mannheim is also exposed to legal pressure. The German Environmental Aid (DUH) filed a lawsuit against the city in February to request rigorous noise protection measures. The lawsuit is part of a much broader procedure that affects a total of 25 cities in Germany, including Baden-Baden, Hameln and Sindelfingen. It is criticized that the noise protection measures in Mannheim are inadequate and the current noise action plans do not meet the legal minimum requirements of the EU enforcement noise directive.

According to DUH, Tempo 30 on main roads could offer a quick and inexpensive solution to reduce noise pollution. A reduction from km / h would reduce the noise by 2-3 decibels, which is crucial for the health of the residents. A high percentage of 76 % of Germans states to feel disturbed by road traffic noise, which exposes over 16 million people to noise harmful to health. In 2016 alone, this brought costs of 1.77 billion euros for the healthcare system, as the DUH report describes.

important measures for reducing noise

But what can really be done against traffic noise? With a catalog of noise reduction measures, Cologne has shown that a combination of different approaches often offers the best solution. Speed ​​reductions such as the recommended speed 30 are considered both effective and inexpensive means to reduce the noise in inner -city areas. Research results show positive effects on traffic safety and quality of stay in cities.

Other measures such as noise marks, noise protection walls and soundproof windows are also tried and tested methods that help to minimize the noise pollution in the long term. It remains to be seen how the city of Mannheim reacts to the challenges of noise reduction and whether the legal disputes will soon lead to a comprehensive improvement in the noise situation.

summarized it is shown that the measures of the city with the repeated demands for effective noise protection plans must be reconciled. The German environmental aid A modern noise action program could be crucial for improving the everyday situation contribute to many citizens. More information on the effective noise measures and their effects can be read in Handbook of the noise action planning